Hillsboro Recognizes Former Mayor Jimmie Darr

The City of Hillsboro recognizes former Hillsboro Mayor Jimmie Darr's legacy of community service after Darr passed away on October 24 at the age of 90.

Darr served as the Mayor of Hillsboro from January 1981 through January 1985.

• In 2015, Darr shared his own story with City Recorder Amber Rios in an oral history recording.
• Darr also briefly discussed his accomplishments during the City's annual State of the City in 2015 with Mayor Jerry Willey.
• In 2024, Darr was honored with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce's Philanthropic Leadership Award.
• He also set up the Jimmie Darr Scholarship Fund with the Hillsboro Community Foundation, which awarded several scholarships for 2025.

"Jimmie was a great man who embodied the kindness, selfless service, and decency that represents the best of our community," said former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway. "He started some important initiatives that we enjoy today. Jimmie was the last of the mayors who served two-year terms, and with a City Charter change helped create the current form of government."

During Darr's four years as Mayor, the City of Hillsboro increased its emphasis on Arts & Culture, which Darr described as his only campaign promise. Darr noted in his oral history recording in 2015 that the City launched events at Shute Park with a newly constructed stage and laid the groundwork for the eventual opening of the Walters Cultural Arts Center. The City also worked to revitalize Downtown by removing parking meters and adding new lighting. In this time, the Hillsboro Farmers' Markets opened - including the Saturday market and the Tuesday Night Market - as did the Hillsboro Downtown Business Association. Darr also discussed the work that led to the Ronler Acres development and the Orenco Station neighborhood.

Darr was born in Freedom, Oklahoma. His parents were farmers during the time of the dust storms, and moved to Lancaster, California, where Jimmie was raised until he was 10. They later moved to the Pacific Northwest. Darr graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1952. He later attended the University of Oregon, where he received his law degree. He worked as a deputy district attorney for the Washington County District Attorney's office, before he left for private practice in Beaverton. While there, Darr served as the City Attorney for the City of Beaverton, and as the attorney for the Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District.

In 1967, Darr returned to Hillsboro and ran his own legal practice for 32 years. He was Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce president in 1980 when a group of Councilors encouraged him to run for mayor, which he succeeded in doing.